Garment stays



T. P. HORN GARMENT STAYS Nave 17, 1959 Filed Dec. 20, 1955 ATTDRN EYS United States Patent 2,912,983 I GARMENT srAYs Thelma P. Horn, San Antonio, Tex. Application December 20-, 1955, Serial No. 554,212

3 Claims Cl. 128-469) stays for use with womens wearing apparel such as dresses, brassieres, corsets, bathing suits and the like, the stays being comfortable on the persons body and whereby when the stays are used, the garment will fit a persons body properly and efliciently.

This application is a continuation in part of my patent application, Serial No. 410,007, filed Februry 12, 1954 for Ladies Garment Stays, and now abandoned.

A further object of the invention is to provide stays which are extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description. 4

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a brassiere equipped with the stays of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of a body or frame showing the stays mounted therein.

Figure 3 is a plan view of one'of the center or main stays. j

Figure 4 is an end elevational view' of thestayof Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the side stays.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified main stay.

Figure 7 is a plan view of another modified main stay.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a still further modified main stay.

Figure 9 is a plan view of a still further modified main stay.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a garment such as a brassiere which may include a strap 11 and braces 12, Figures 1 and 2. The brassiere may further include the usual fabric covering 13.

The present invention is directed to stays or stiffening elements which are adapted to be used with the garment 10. Although a brassiere is illustrated, it is to be understood that the stays can be used with other garments such as corsets, bathing suits or the like. The stays include a' center or main 'stay 14 and arranged on the opposite sides of the main stay 14 is a pair of side stays 15.

One of themain stays is shown in detail in Figures 3 and 4 wherein there is provided a base or widened portion 16 which has a pair of opposed recesses 17 that define on opposite sides thereof tongues or fingers 18. Extending from the base 16 is a pair of diverging or outwardly extending arms 19, and the base 16 may be secured to the strap ,11 by means of stitching 20, while the Patented Nov. 17, 1959 2. ends of the arms 19 may be secured to the braces 12 by stitchings 21.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, there is shown one of the side stays 15 which has an inverted T-shape. The stay 15 includes'a support portion 22 which may be stitched to the band or strap 11, and the stay 15 further includes a leg or arm 23 which is arranged at right angles with respect to the support portion 22. The support portion 22 of the stay 1.5 may be provided with an indentation 24, and the base 16 may be provided with an indentation 25 whereby these indentations can be used as guides in properly aligning the stays. The stay 15 may be secured to the braces 12 by a stitching 26, and these stays can be secured to the band 11 by stitchings 27.

Each of the stays may be enclosed or encased in a suitable fabric covering.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings there is shown a modified main stay which is ind'cated generally by the numeral 28, and the main stay 28 includes a base 30 which has a pair of diverging arms 29 extending therefrom. The arms 29 have a different curvature from the arms 19 shown in Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 7 there is shown a still further modified main stay which is indicated generally by the numeral 31, and the main stay 31 includes a base 32 which has arms 33 extending therefrom, and the arms 33 terminate in outwardly extending sections 34.

Referring to Figure 8 there 'is shown a still further modified main stay which is indicated by the numeral 35, and the stay 35 includes curved arms 36. In Figure 9 there is shown a further modified main stay which is indicated generally by the numeral 37. The stay 37 includes a base 38 which has a-straight portion 39 extending outwardly therefrom, and a pair of divergent arms 40 extend outwardly from the straight portion 39.

From the foregoing, it-is apparent that there has been provided stays which are adapted to be used with ladies garments such as brassieres. In use, one of the main stays suchas the stay 14 may be secured in the garment 10 by suitablestitchings, and then a pair of the side stays 15 are arranged on opposite sides of the main stay 14,

and the side stays 15 are also secured inplace by stitchings. Theplurality of stays will thus insure that the garment such as the brassiere will have the proper shape and remain in its proper position. The stays 15have an inverted T-shape, and the stay '14 is shaped so as 'to'include a space between the arms 19 and this space between the arms may conform to the configuration of the brassiere or the like.

Instead of using the center stay 14, a stay such as the stay 28 or the stay 31 or the stay 35 or the stay 37 can be used. These different shapes of stays thus permit the assembly to be used with garments or brassieres which may have different configurations. Each of the main stays includes a base which is provided with recesses 17 that define tongues or fingers 18 whereby stitching can be arranged around these tongues so as to anchor or secure the stays in place to the band or strap 11. The side stays 15 include the support portion 22 which can be stitched to the band or strap. The indentations 24 and 25 can be used as guide marks when aligning the stays.

It will be seen from Figure 2 of the drawings that the stays can be sewed into the frame work so that any article of clothing can be suspended as for example, bathing suits, dresses or the like.

The stays can be made of any suitable material as for example they can be made of metal or plastic and the stays may be cut out or stamped by means of a die. As an example of the material which can be used in mak ng the stays, aluminum can be used. Also, the stays can be covered with an adhesive fabric on one side and ordinary fabric on the other so that such a covering will provide the necessary means by which the stays are sewed into the garment. This covering material may be applied permanently byironing after the stays have been placed between the plain fabric and the adhesive fabric with the adhesive on the inside. The .hot iron can'be applied to the adhesive fabric which engage the ordinary fabric so as to cause the stay to be enclosed in a permanent cloth covering. The different shapes of stays shown in the drawing are provided so that the device can be used to conform with different necklines in brassieres, dresses, bathing suits, corsets and the like. The size and shape of the parts can be varied as desired. Also, the number of stays being used can be varied as desired. The main stay is .sewn into the garment at the front center thereof, and two of the secondary stays are then sewn in on the left side .and on the right side of the main stay at a location which is approximately under the arm pit. The stays may be cut, stamped, molded or extruded as desired.' .One advantage of making the stays out of aluminum is that the stays will not rust and also the stays will be soft enough so that the thread or fabric will not be cut. Also, by making the stays of aluminum, the stays will be malleable so that they can be readily bent by hand whereby the stays can be custom fitted to the body .contours of each individual if desired. The stays are comfortable to wear and Will withstand much use and can be worn to increase the attractiveness of the garments. The protruding fingers 18 as well as the other ,parts provide an area which can be sewn to the garment. The ends of the arms 19 are positioned over the bust so that the device is suspended in a natural manner. The large base 16 distributes the area of pressure so as to insure that the stays can be worn more comfortably. Also, the broad base prevents rocking back and forth in the garment. By sewing the side stays at an approximate position under the armpits, on the band, a frame work is provided to which a strapless garment can be sewn and when such a band is placed with the center stay at the center of the chest and worn firmly around the body directly under the bust, there is provided a semi-rigid framework which suspends the garment up over the bust without the aid of shoulder straps or any supplemental support.

I claim:

1. In combination, .a'body member including a strap and inclined braces, 21 main stay including an enlarged base secured to saidstrap, said base being provided with aligned inwardly extending recesses defining pairs of tongues on opposite sides thereof, said base being secured to said strap, and a pair of side stays arranged on opposite sides of said main stay, each of said side stays having an inverted T-shape and each including a support portion secured to said strap, and a leg extending at right angles to each of said support portions and secured to said braces, there being indentations in the lower portions of each of said stays intermediate the ends thereof.

2. In combination, a body member including a strap and inclined braces, a .main stay including an enlarged base secured .to said strap, said base being provided with aligned inwardly extending recesses defining pairs of tongues .on .opposite sides thereof, said base being secured to said strap, and a pair of side stays arranged on opposite sides of sad main stay, each of said side stays having an inverted T-shape and each including a support portion secured to said strap, and a leg extending at right angles to each of said support portions and secured to said braces, there being indentationsin the lower portionsvof each of ,saidstays intermediate the ends thereof each of said main stays including a pair of curved arms extending outwardly from said base and arranged in diverging relation with respect to each other.

3. A garment comprising a body member embodying a strap, inclined braces, and a fabric covering, a main stay including an enlarged base secured to said strap, said base being provided with aligned inwardly extending recesses defining pairs of tongues on opposite sides thereof said base being secured to said strap, a pair of side stays arranged onopposite sides of said main stay, each of said side stays having an inverted T-shape and each including a support portion secured to said strap, a leg extending atright angles to each of said support portions and secured to the braces, there being indentations in the lower portions of each of said stays intermediate the ends thereof, said indentations adapted to be used as guides in properly aligning the stays, each of said main stays embodying a pair .of curved arms extending outwardly from said base and arranged in diverging relation with respect to each other, the ends of the arms'being secured to the braces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 925,655 Round June 22, 1909 1,474,190 Fox Nov. 13, 1923 2,559,294 Goddard July 3, 1 951 2,588,603 Anderson Mar. 11, 1952 r 2,186,205 Payne Mar. 26, 1957 

